CARMEL – Putnam County Executive Kevin Byrne took to the offense Wednesday when explaining why the county’s former number two man in the Bureau of Emergency Services, Deputy Commissioner Ralph Falloon, was relieved of his duties last week.
Falloon had verbally attacked the executive following his dismissal, charging that Byrne’s administration was poorly managed and “being accused of not being a team member was a low blow.”
Byrne said it was generally his practice not to “publicly comment on or criticize former employees when they don’t work out and the county goes in a different direction. However, that practice also relies on the ability of outgoing employees to act in a professional manner, and recent comments regarding former Deputy Commissioner Falloon require added clarification.”
Byrne said: “When the commissioner position became vacant, this administration followed the same process we use for senior leadership roles—we posted the position and allowed qualified candidates to apply and compete. Mr. Falloon was clearly resentful of that decision, and it affected his ability and willingness to perform his duties.”
The executive added after he nominated James Oster to serve as Commissioner of Emergency Services, “Mr. Falloon was given the opportunity to continue serving under the new Commissioner. However, the Commissioner ultimately identified a pattern of concerns involving Mr. Falloon—including failure to be responsive during a state of emergency, unprofessional conduct toward colleagues, failure to follow basic workplace procedures, poor communication and accountability, and a lack of cooperation with other departments — issues that undermined the effective operation of a critical public safety agency.”
Byrne said he empowers department heads to “build the leadership teams they need to carry out their mission. Commissioner Oster determined the Bureau needed to move in a new direction, and he has my full support.”
The Deputy Commissioner position is currently vacant and Byrne said the County Personnel Department will be posting the position and will be “actively seeking qualified applicants interested in serving Putnam County in this critical public safety role.”
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